Should the Orioles make a new highlight video? Why not?

In a season filled with surprises, the Baltimore Orioles played a game they simply had to win on Thursday night.

The hated Yankees were in town. They unveiled a statue of Cal Ripken - on the anniversary of 2,131, no less. After decades of decay and fan malaise under Peter Angelos' unsteady stewardship, Camden Yards was actually jammed with fans clad in black and orange.

And the boys came through, smacking six home runs to win 10-6 and tie the Yankees atop the AL East. The O's are getting into some rarefied air, the stuff that should inspire a fabulous montage video.

Unfortunately, Baltimore can't outdo itself in this category.

There once was a team called the 1989 Orioles, who entered the year coming off an ignominious '88 campaign that included 21 consecutive losses to start the year and the awkward dismissal of Cal Ripken Sr. as manager. With Frank Robinson at the helm, Froot Loops aficionado Mickey Tettleton smacking home runs and an absolute no-name pitching staff defying the odds (Jeff Ballard - 18-game winner?) the '89 O's became an even unlikelier contender than the '12 edition.

They built a 7 1/2 game lead in July and battled the Toronto Blue Jays all through September, poised within a game of the Jays entering a final-weekend showdown series at Skydome, which was in its inaugural year.

To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

USA TODAY is now using Facebook Comments on our stories and blog posts to provide an enhanced user experience. To post a comment, log into Facebook and then "Add" your comment. To report spam or abuse, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box. To find out more, read the FAQ and Conversation Guidelines.

About Daily Pitch

Daily Pitch is a baseball fan's destination for breaking news, emerging trends and enlightening banter. With a veteran group of reporters positioned in three time zones, we provide a balanced, comprehensive glimpse at our national pastime, with a nod to both the passion and complexities that make the sport irresistible to many. More about our reporters